Review: The Arranged Love Marriage by Safina Khan Soudagar

TITLE: The Arranged Love Marriage
AUTHOR: Safina Khan Soudagar
PUBLISHER: Broadway Publishing House
GENRE: Romance
BLURB: “‘Miss, are you alright?’ That voice… Her tummy fluttered and her eyes flew open to clash with the deepest grey eyes ever. The buzzing of the phone stopped, and so did her heart. Saphira Varma, at twenty seven is well-established in her dream company and is happily single until her parent’s wish for her to settle turns her world upside down. Her heart is locked away, but a loveless marriage to a stranger might be just the thing to placate her parents. But as her past questions her present and threatens her future, she is uncertain. Will Saphira find the lost key? If you’re a challenge woman… I certainly accept. A business minded Sameer Malhotra hadn’t expected for an arranged marriage to land up on his to-do list. But he finds himself agreeing to just that. A girl of his parent’s choice might bring him happiness. He wasn’t sure until, he found himself feeling for a woman who was captivating and left him curious. Will Saphira’s past make this a one-sided love? Not if Sameer can help it. There will be a marriage, the question is, ‘What kind?’

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MY RATING: 4/5

MY REVIEW:
The Arranged Love Marriage is a straight up romance, a story of two individuals both career oriented and married to their jobs, who come to realize that there is more to life than their jobs and to do lists. Saphira Varma is a perfectionist, an ace at her job and a warm hearted girl. Sameer Malhotra is a goal oriented, business minded guy. How these two people who are happily single and so not ready to mingle, fall in love with each other and the story of their ‘arranged love marriage’ makes up the plot of the book.

“She searched the shelves and picked out Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice

This book was a binge read for me. I picked it up one late morning and didn’t move from my place till I finished it. The plot, the characters and the family dynamics of this book are all both realistic and relatable. The story is told through both Saphira’s and Sameer’s POVs and it made for a good reading experience as the reader gets the perspectives of both the characters. The writing is simple and pleasant. I loved how much I could relate to Saphira. I loved her individuality, her strength, her kindness, her dedication and passion towards her job, and her love and protectiveness towards her family. I also loved Sameer for his charming personality and the devotion he has for his family. The friendship between Saphira and her ‘gang’ was also one of my favorite points of this book. I loved the group dynamics and how loyal and protective they were of each other. I also loved the added element of a little suspense of why Saphira is reluctant and adamant at not letting Sammer get close to her and why she is afraid to open up her heart and accept his love for her. The suspense of this so very well written that it keeps you  hooked and keeps you guessing till the last page. The settings of the plot is also quite scenic especially so because it is mostly set in Goa and Paris, what’s not to love about that. Also one of the major reasons that made me love this book were the subtle Pride & Prejudice references. 😉 The lovely epilogue was the cherry on top.
My only complaint with this book is the editing. The book could have been a bit more well edited, especially when the pov changes from one to the other. That was the only down point of my reading experience of this book.
Needless to say this book made my heart all squishy and mushy and I suggest you read it too for a heartwarming experience. ❤ Definitely looking forward to more of the author’s future works. 😀

You can buy the book here. Or you can also DM the author on her author page on Instagram and buy a personalized signed copy from her. 🙂

Please leave feedback in the comment section below. I’d love to interact with you on any improvements of my reviews.

Thank you! See you soon!

xo, Rishi

*Disclaimer: I was sent a copy of this book by the author for review, but all the opinions stated are honest and my own.

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